WELCOME!!!!!!! Albany writers rock!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi there,

I'm new to the Albany region, or, rather, will be; I'm moving the week before November to live with my best friend until we go to Japan next year. (Hurrah!) I'll be in downtown Albany without, unfortunately, transportation other than the CDTA buses, so hopefully there will be at least one meeting I can make. :)

I love NaNo dearly even when it eats my soul, and I'm looking forward to meet-ups where I don't have to organize them! I was an ML for a few years on another account and eventually burned out, so I know how hard it is.

My favourite genres are pretty much anything, though I enjoy speculative fiction and un-pretentious literary fiction (it does exist! I swear! *shifty eyes*) to a perverse degree.

I'm back for another go at this-even though I know I will fail miserably.

So about me,

I'm a freshman IT major at RPI, but I grew up around here too. My workload is so intense that it isn't going to leave any time for me to really get any substantial amount of writing done. I'll have to do my entire novel on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.

As for meetings and such, I don't have a car, but I ride CDTA for free. (I better get some benefits considering the tuition I pay to this place.) So meeting locations that are on bus routes in and out of Troy. (70, 90, 87, 88, 89, and a couple others) would be nice. :P

Isn't Stuyvesant Plaza on the bus route, or near to? I seem to remember at least one person last year taking the bus to our Bruegger's meetups...

The 10 has a bunch of stops around there, I'm pretty sure (from, you know, the2 weeks I've spent there visiting, haha). Other than that, I don't know.

It is on the bus route, which is why we often meet at the Bruegger's Bagels at Stuyvesant Plaza - it's cheap, well lit, and easy for most people to get there! But I'm always open to suggestions for other meet-up locations, so suggest away! My main criteria are:

-public and reasonably safe
-accessible by public transit
-handicapped accessible
-affordable for everyone

With that in mind, please feel free to name some locations while introducing yourselves! And don't give up before it's begun, lordofthedogs! I've succeeded twice while working full time and volunteering as an Election Inspector! You may surprise yourself!

Hi! I'm Jenn, back for another year. I didn't make it to any of the meetups last year because I had a ton of interim deadlines on a non-fiction contract, but I hope to make it to at least one this year. I should be able to spend the whole month working on my novel instead of juggling other book projects, which will be a nice change of pace!

Well apparently I need to take three buses to get from RPI to Styvesant plaza...

Though I suppose I could take Rt. 90 to UAlbany and walk....

Hi,

I'm Varin and this is my third attempt at Nano. I wrote a teenager/vampire story and then an alien abduction story and did not make either the word count or the deadlines. (I haven't given up on either of them.) This year I may try my hand at a fantasy in one sense or another. I have a couple of ideas that may turn into somethng. The third time will be the charm.

I don't know of any perfect places for folks to meet. I've been to meets at Romano's (Wolf Road, Colonie-very expensive), Professor Java's (Wolf Road, Colonie-dark, uncomfortable, and few tables. A challenge to juggle writing implements with food, you could only fit one at a time on the table.), The coffee bar on 4th St., in Troy (The name slips my mind.-on street parking, crowded, limited space) Panera's (this one was in East Greenbush, lots of room, food, Internet, but I'm not sure how bus friendly they are.) Brueggher's (Stuyvesant Plaza, there is bus access, but like most of the Capital District, unless you're in Albany, not simple to get to.)

Someone suggested a library to me. We met once at East Greenbush library, but they DEFINITELY don't have bus access.

That's all I can think of at the moment.

If you did that, somebody could probably give you a lift from UAlbany to the plaza.

Hello, everyone! Well, I just moved here a few months ago from Philly. I've done nano a few times with varying success. I have no clue what I'm going to write about this year, though I usually shoot for fantasy. November will probably be crazy for me since I'm working in retail, but I'm going to do my best to come out with some sort of a coherent story anyway. Hopefully I can make some of the get-togethers, my schedule is somewhat erratic. I'm another one for public transit, as well. Hmm, I can't think of anything else to say about myself. This does not bode well for nov....

Hey all!

Some of you know me from past years, others don't. I'm Heather and this will be my third year officially participating in NaNo. Technically, I live in Greene county, but I lived in Glenmont when I did NaNo the first time and Catskill is a suburb of Albany... so I still hang around this board, where I actually know some people. I write fantasy, but I like to mix in a bit of mystery, science fiction, and whatever else springs to mind.

I honestly can't think of any other place besides Bruegger's that would be good for meets. What's the bookstore in Crossgates like? Any place to sit and chat there? *strains to remember* Perhaps one of the restaurants in Crossgates would work for the kick off party? I honestly don't know what they're like price-wise. Whenever we go to one, it's with my parents and my father is kind enough to pay. >_<

I may actually make it to the kick-off and TGIO parties this year! *is thrilled that November begins on a Saturday and ends on a Sunday*

Welcome to all of you that I know and to those of you I'll be getting to know this November! My name is Grace and I tried and conquered NaNoWriMo last year for the very first time!

I live in Delmar. There are plenty of great coffee shops in the area that are great, but limited bus options.

I've got some ideas for this year's NaNo, which is better than where I was November 1 of last year. :) The meetings really helped a lot (although I've never shared my writing, much to the dismay of Marcia and the gang) and it's great getting to know other writers in the area. We even meet throughout the year.

Hey Marcia - maybe I should be the Albany PR person...I had to stop myself because I started sounded like an ad campaign...

Uh oh! A PR person! That sounds like we're getting ready for the big time all right!

Actually, I'd like everyone possible to be PR people, and NanoWrimo has some handy handouts to help get the job done! Expect me to press some on everyone at our October get-togethers! Speaking of which, I was interested in getting together at the Bruegger's in Stuyvesant Plaza this Saturday at elevenish for some pre-pre-planning! Bagels, coffee and conversation anyone?

Ello Albany! I'm Julie. I joined NaNoWriMo last year and won and then decided to continue onward with this year's ScriptFrenzy and won in . . . 14 days?!?! Yea, it was kind of crazy, but I'm happy with the results and ready for another round of madness. It's still the same concept, characters, and setting within the sci-fi genre and a fantasy'ish spin off.

So, the bit about me is that I'm 26, live in Watervliet, and still work at Stewart's that is, thankfully, just across the street from my lovely apartment and therefore always near for that cup of caffiene as long as it's before 12AM. Naturally, though, the hours are pretty nuts, so who knows if I'll make the write-ins, but then there is always the busline. My schedule tends to put me at Tuesday and Thursday off, so if anyone's interested in some weekday writing, I'll be there!

Is everyone getting together on Saturday, or did that idea die in the water?

Yes - we are planning to be at the Bruegger's Bagels in Stuyvesant Plaza this Saturday, starting at elevenish - I just couldn't get on the board the past 40 hours to say so - hope to see you there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What the hell, my introduction post seems to have gotten eaten! Oh well. I'll give it another go. :)

I'm Theresa, but y'all can call me Sam. I'm 23, live in the Averill Park area, and this will be my fourth year doing NaNo! I like to read mostly YA and adult (light) fantasy, with a little sci-fi here and there; that's also what I tend to write. This year for NaNo, I have some characters in mind, as well as a very basic idea. I'm hoping the characters will lead me to a plot. They usually seem to know what they're doing better than I do!

I'm also a musician, and play a local show here and there. I've got one in Delmar on Saturday, so I won't be able to come hang out with everyone, but I'm planning on putting some NaNo fliers out along with my self-promo stuff, to help spread the madness!

Thanks, Sam!!!!!!!!!!!
And we'll be having plenty of other meetings - I want to try to make our group as inclusive as possible. Yes, some posts and even registrations were lost because of the server going down, but hopefully we won't be facing any more disruptions as massive as that from here on out (knock on keyboard).

hey y'all!

my name's elizabeth. i'm a co-ml for the lexington, ky region, but i grew up in amsterdam. i will be moving back to upstate ny during nano (fun fun fun, no??) but to the southern tier; horseheads. i'm hope*full that next nano, i can make it to an albany area write-in. :D

i like to keep up with you guys and see how y'all are doing :D

love~
elizabeth

I won't be able to make any meetings probably until the kick-off because I won't be moving until the end of October, but I'm definitely up for anything on a bus route. (Look at me, I'm adventurous!)

At this point, anything will be easy after having to take several trains and subways to get to meetings in Japan. At least this way I won't be going through four towns and two cities just to get there. *laugh*

This Saturday, as in the day after tomorrow?

I'll see what I can do, though I'll probably be anti-social because I might wind up doing homework the whole time...

Nah, I'll try to be a good guest if I do manage to make it.

Yays! Looks like a few people will be there. Heidi (hlltwin) and I weren't sure if we could make it, because our new glasses came in this last Wednesday, but we'll be picking them up this evening, so Saturday we'll be there and we'll even be able to see! ^_^

All right, so is someone gonna have a sign or something so we can recognize each other?

As for me, I'll be the kid...er, young adult, wearing the Rensselaer hoodie.

I am planning to bring a sign - fyi!

Hi All

This will be my first NaNoWriMo and I am looking forward to it. I have a couple ideas that might turn into a YA fantasy story.

I am running in the Komen 5K in the morning (anybody else?) but I hope I can make it to Brueggers too.

Thanks
Noreen

Welcome to those who are new and welcome back to those who have been through this before. My husband, sadly, it not thrilled about NaNo since we just got married in September. But it is something he will learn to live with and love.

I wish I could make a kick-off party, this year, but at least I have a few goals for this year.

Goal 1: Actually get out to more of the write-a-thon get togethers through the month.
Goal 2: Actually meet people this year.
Goal 3: Not to get stressed and take this too seriously. This years novel idea is just going to be fun and silly.
Goal 4: If I can't make the kick-off party, I hope to make the end of the month closing party.

They aren't huge goals, but I hope they get me further than last year. I may have won both years, but I felt very alone in doing it and hit too many writer's blocks. I hope this year that meeting people, laughing and having fun will keep it less stressful and also help give me new ideas with what to do in my story.

Hi. This Is my first year doing this!! my aunt was the one to show me this site.
I have started million other stories but never finish them.
I just hope and pray THAT THIS time I at least get past the opening.

*~~~The Worlds Will Mold In To One~~~*

I am baackk!
I will join you all where ever you will meet.
Last year was my first year, I have no idea of what i will write this year. SO i will give it another try..

Am I crazy? Maybe. But after years of not doing this anymore ... I've been sucked in again.

I'm from just outside of Saratoga ... and wondering why all of the meetup ideas I'm seeing on here so far are for waaaaaaaay down south. Why can't we meet in the middle sometime? Maybe, say, Latham, where there are plenty of possible places (and easy parking)?

(I miss the Borders in Colonie ... while I loved the closing sale they had, I remembered going to a couple of NaNo meetups there back in the day, and I guess we can't do that anymore.)

Welcome back, Karner Blue! And FreeAgain and Crimson Memory!
I wouldn't quite characterize the Metro 20 Diner in Guilderland as way down south, and this will actually be the first time we've held a meeting in Glenmont. We normally have bagel brunch sessions at the Bruegger's in Stuyvesant Plaza, which seems to be convenient for almost everyone. But this year I am trying to have meetups spread out over a large area, so there will be gatherings not only in Glenmont and Guilderland, but also in East Greenbush and Downtown/Central Albany. I'd also like to arrange some more northerly gatherings for the Clifton Park/Saratoga area, and we may be having a second kickoff party site closer to you. Any suggestions for a location?